Nuggets Thread!!!
Lakers' Pau Gasol trying to be assertive
The power forward is a bit frustrated because he and Andrew Bynum aren't utilizing their size advantage over the Nuggets. Plus, he has taken only 17 shots in two games.
By Broderick Turner
May 23, 2009
The question left Pau Gasol pondering, even searching for the right answer.
He had just scored 17 points in the Lakers' 106-103 loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals Thursday night at Staples Center.
He had just grabbed 17 rebounds, five on the offensive end. He had just made seven of 10 free throws. He had just blocked two shots and played 44 minutes.
Gasol was looking to be aggressive, but he took only eight shots.
Should he demand the ball more?
"I don't know what should I do anymore," an exasperated Gasol said.
He sighed. He had put in the effort. He had tried to help carry the load and not leave it all up to Kobe Bryant.
But eight shots -- he made five -- was not what Gasol had hoped for, not with the way he had been playing.
"I'm playing hard, as hard as I can. I'm trying to give my best effort out there," Gasol said. "When I get the ball, I try to make good decisions and I try to be aggressive. I'm going to continue to be aggressive and continue to do my job and help us as much as I can and hopefully get a few more touches."
In the first two games, Gasol has made 10 of 17 shots.
At 7 feet, Gasol has a height advantage over the 6-10 Nene and 6-9 Kenyon Martin, the two primary defenders on him.
Gasol made the most of his shots in the first half, going three for five.
"We tried a little bit more in the second half. In the first half, I don't know how many looks I had," Gasol said. "I think there's got to be a conscious effort of trying to get the ball inside because it gives us penetration. And for the most part, a lot of good things happen when we do that."
Gasol was asked if perhaps the Nuggets are crowding the Lakers and making it difficult to get entry passes into the post. He wasn't buying that.
"We've got counters, we've got different options that we can go to so it doesn't get stuck and keep the ball on one side," Gasol said. "When that happens, we've got problems.
"In the first half, we moved the ball really well. We got open shots, layups, all kinds of stuff. The ball was flowing, the game was flowing and we were doing good. Once the ball started getting stuck and not moving, we lost the advantage."
Andrew Bynum never got much of a chance to help the Lakers. He played only 18 minutes, none in the fourth quarter.
Bynum had nine points and two rebounds.
"I did everything that I could," Bynum said. "I came out and I was active. I don't know why I wasn't out there."
Did Jackson tell him why?
"Of course not," Bynum said. "It wasn't the fouls. Obviously it was the rotation. I'm not sure."
I think you missed the point.
